Premier League clubs are considering, among other options, the commitment to complete the season before the start of July at a meeting on Friday, the Guardian understands.<\/p>\n
A resolution to consign the 2019-20 campaign to history by 30 June, whether or not the entire schedule of games has been completed, will be among the proposals put to the league.
\nReports indicate that the proposed move is favoured by a large number of the league\u2019s members as one of the most significant factors driving the idea to finish by that time frame is the expiry of numerous player and staff contracts by the end of June.<\/p>\n
An executive from a leading club told the Guardian he was relatively relaxed, with Fifa having issued guidelines last week stating contracts can be extended until such time as the season ends.
\nHowever he admitted the subject was on the table, with other clubs worried that English contractual law would render the governing body\u2019s stipulations irrelevant, possibly leading to hundreds of potentially unresolved situations should fixtures be honoured into July. This would mean that an out-of-contract player could then stand himself down from action even if still relied upon by his club for its remaining games.<\/p>\n
Should the proposal to settle the season by 30 June be put to a vote, a 14-club majority would be required by the Premier League to approve any decision made. There\u2019s also the consideration that should it go through, the chances of completing a 38-game schedule would appear distinctly remote as most teams have nine games left to play while four – Manchester City, Sheffield United, Arsenal and Aston Villa – must play 10. It would be an intensely hectic schedule to get players match-fit.<\/p>\n
At the moment the idea being mooted to curtail the campaign along the proposed lines would not equate to voiding it even if some fixtures were to remain unplayed, although it is still uncertain what efforts would be required to decide on a final league table that would broad satisfy everyone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"